Page 158 - CW E-Magazine (25-3-2025)

News from Abroad

CHEMICAL STORAGE INFRASTRUCTURE
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines to acquire Dutch tank terminal

operator for $1.7-bn

Japan’s shipping major, Mitsui
O.S.K. Lines (MOL), is acquiring LBC
Tank Terminals, a Dutch tank terminal
operator focused on handling and stor-
ing chemical cargo in Europe and the
US, in a deal worth $1.7-bn.

The deal will strengthen MOL’s
foothold in the chemical cargo logistics
sector, specifically, small-lot transport
using tank containers.

Moreover, with the demand for the
transportation of ammonia and carbon
dioxide (CO ) anticipated to surge as a
2
result of global decarbonisation efforts, both business growth and sustainability US. The transaction was reportedly
MOL will look to leverage the acquisi- endeavours, MOL has made numerous valued at $400-mn. More recently, namely
tion of LBC to give a boost to the deve- strategic investments in recent times. In in January 2025, MOL completed the
lopment of its energy business by adding March 2024, MOL Chemical Tankers acquisition of Swiss open-hatch vessel
onshore storage to its logistics portfolio. finalised the purchase of Fairfield owner and manager Gearbulk, revealing
Chemical Carriers (FCC), a chemical that it would own a 72% stake of the
As part of the initiative to support tanker service company based in the company moving forward.

WATER MANAGEMENT
Croda, NTU spin-off join hands to build wastewater

treatment plant in Jurong Island

Croda Singapore, the regional head- The upcoming plant aims to sub- nometres, which remain suspended
quarters of UK-based specialty chemi- stantially reduce Croda’s dependence in water longer than regular bubbles,
cals firm, Croda International, has on freshwater sources and lower carbon increasing the surface area for chemical
partnered with NanoSun, a spin-off emissions by 25% compared to current reactions and aiding in the breakdown
from Nanyang Technological Univer- industry standards. NanoSun’s water of stubborn pollutants.
sity (NTU) Singapore, to construct an purification technology, which incor-
advanced wastewater treatment facility porates a patented high-performance “NanoSun’s technology is designed
at its Seraya manufacturing site on filtration membrane produced through to turn industrial wastewater into a
Jurong Island. a 3D-printing process infused with valuable resource. Our collaboration
titanium dioxide particles, will be central with Croda highlights how advanced
This collaboration follows a suc- to this initiative. This membrane boasts filtration and nano-bubble tech can drive
cessful pilot under the Jurong Island self-cleaning properties and is enhanced sustainability in industries. Looking
Innovation Challenge (JIIC), an initia- by a confined nano-bubble process ahead, we aim to expand this innovation
tive by JTC and Enterprise Singapore, that improves filtration efficiency. The to convert CO into construction mate-
2
marking a significant transition from nano-bubble technology generates ultra- rials for Long Island’s land reclamation
testing to full-scale implementation. fine gas bubbles, smaller than 200 na- while also lowering costs for NEWater

158 Chemical Weekly March 25, 2025

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